The Integrity of the Decision Making Process PART ONE

Resting your case…

“In a court of law, the prosecution and the defense both have the opportunity to present their case. At the point at which they have had their opportunity to completely cover their concerns, they rest their case.

I believe it’s a healthy moment where the team can say, I’ve done everything I can. Now I rest.

Sometimes, we could do the same. We’ve given our best effort to solve the problem, nothing more we can do, and can’t change history. Time to give it a rest. Hallelujah!”

TC SPEAK JULY 17 Commissioner James Knaggs

Oh, if it were that simple for both parties. On one side is a multimillion dollar global corporation and on the other, a Salvation Army officer, living in ‘loaned’ accommodations, driving a borrowed vehicle and with temporary working arrangements that can be altered at the corporation’s whim. OK, perhaps not quite that dramatic, however, the corporation vs the officer does indeed often resemble a David and Goliath show down.

When the time comes for an officer to consider his resignation, and it comes to most all of us, who is there for us? How do we break through the middle management mire to communicate with those in control and who have the necessary skill, education, compassion and experience to speak with integrity?

FSAOF were recently invited, with others, to meet in conversation with territorial leaders of the USA Eastern territory, the first such initiative of which we are aware. It was a time dedicated to explore; RESTORATION, RECONCILIATION and RENEWAL. The discussions were frank and respectful. Apologies from TSA provided the necessary integrity and honesty, ethical principles removing immediately all perceptions of partiality. There were no artificial constructs and the conversation flowed freely with emotion. No apologies were necessary as pent up sentiments, some withheld for a decade or more, were released, often with a flood of tears.

It was a holy time, a time of healing.

Sven Ljungholm